Faculty In the News

Thomas W. Elliott, Jr., Assistant Professor in the Practice of Practical Theology, Director of Contextual Education II, and Director of the Teaching Parish Program and Ministry Internships, was quoted in an article about the New Church Leadership Academy, a partnership between the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Contextual Education program at Candler School of Theology. The year-long program gives third-year MDiv students an oppportunity to explore a calling to new church leadership. "Through study and reflection, site visits to new churches, presentations by successful church planters, and instruction and group process over two semesters, students develop a portfolio of best practices in congregation leadership and a plan of how they would start a new church.”

Deseret News Nov. 11, 2014Jehu J. Hanciles, D.W. and Ruth Brooks associate professor of world Christianity, was quoted in a story about how immigration is changing the shape of the church, “bringing together increasing numbers of diverse peoples into the conversation" of how congregations should function. The story comes on the heels of a Religion Newswriters Association conference and panel discussion on religion and immigration at Emory University Law School in Atlanta.

From Nothing: A Theology of Creation, a new book by Ian A. McFarland, associate dean of faculty and academic affairs and Bishop Mack B. and Rose Stokes professor of theology, is reviewed by The Christian Century.

Baptist News GlobalSep. 24, 2014Teresa Fry Brown, professor of homiletics and director of Black Church Studies, participated in a panel discussion on religion and immigration at Emory University Law School in Atlanta in conjunction with the annual conference of the Religion Newswriters Association.

Emory News CenterSep. 24, 2014Thomas G. Long, Bandy professor of preaching, won the silver award for his most recent book in the religion category at Foreword Reviews' IndieFab Book of the Year Awards.

Homebrewed ChristianitySep. 23, 2014Ian A. McFarland, associate dean of faculty and academic affairs and Bishop Mack B. and Rose Stokes professor of theology, talks about his new book From Nothing: A Theology of Creation.

Laurinburg ExchangeSep. 12, 2014Bandy Professor of Preaching Thomas G. Long's book The Good Funeral: Death, Grief and the Community of Care is reviewed.

Brent Strawn, associate professor of Old Testament, visited CNN’s Atlanta studios on July 27 to discuss Pope Francis’s planned visit to Philadelphia in September 2015 for the World Meeting of Families.

David W. Key Sr. was quoted in an AP news story on the recent election of an Arkansas megachurch pastor to lead the country's Southern Baptists, beating out a Korean-American pastor of a bilingual Maryland church for the role. Key said the latter's strong showing in the election shows "there's an element within the SBC that understands demographic realities."

Looking back on his Emory coursework, Shipman cites classes exploring issues of race, gender and poverty, and credits a course about the theologies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X taught by Robert Franklin — then a professor at Candler School of Theology and soon to be installed Laney Professor in Moral Leadership at the school —with "really crystalizing my deep interest in religion and social movements."

Jacob L. Wright wrote an opinion article for Fox News about how "the Bible, in its present shape, is a response to the defeat of these kings and to the destruction of the centralized states they ruled. A key feature is the attention the Bible gives to the people as a whole."

David W. Key Sr. comments in a Huffington Post article about the decline in Southern Baptist Convention Membership, noting that the numbers reflect the fact that the denomination is no longer in sync with the dominant culture, even in much of the South, the SBC's traditional stronghold.

Emory News CenterMay. 8, 2014In an interview with Emory News Center, Jacob L. Wright, associate professor of Hebrew Bible, provides a glimpse into his new online course on the enduring relevance of the Bible offered through Coursera, an Emory partner for MOOCs (massive open online courses).

The PunchApr. 30, 2014Robert M. Franklin Jr. was quoted in the April 24 edition of The Punch, a daily newspaper in Nigeria, in an article reporting on a speech by the leader of Nigeria's All Progressives Congress (APC) warning against rigging in upcoming elections.

The Chronicle for Higher EducationApr. 28, 2014Jacob L. Wrightexplores how the "enhanced" e-book format is a game changer for scholars in the humanities for The Chronicle for Higher Education.

Jacob L. Wright wrote an article for Bible History Daily about his free seven-week Coursera course, “The Bible’s Prehistory, Purpose, and Political Future” which will start May 26, 2014. A link to the full story is provided.

Students in David Jenkins’ and Marie Marquardt’s course, “The Church on the Border,” gained firsthand experience with the people and places at the center of the U.S. immigration debate during a recent travel seminar led by the two professors to southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. A link is provided to the full story on Emory’s Spirited Thinking blog.

Bernard Lafayette will give a talk about his recent book, In Peace and Freedom: My Journey in Selma, and his experiences as a Civil Rights leader on Mar. 25 at the University of Kentucky. This story also appears on the Kentucky Book Fair website.

David Key, among 25 pastors and Baptist leaders in Georgia, endorsed a letter written by Julie Pennington-Russell to state senators March 10. Pennington-Russell’s letter argued that Mike Griffin, spokesperson for the Georgia Baptist Convention, did not fairly represent the views of Baptists across the state when he showed his support for a House bill that would allow people to bring their guns to church.

Steven Kraftchick, professor in the practice of New Testament interpretation at Candler School of Theology, offered a few comments in an Associated Press story discussing whether or not the actor cast to play the role of Jesus in the new film “Son of God” was too good looking.

Steven Kraftchick, professor in the practice of New Testament interpretation at Candler School of Theology, offered a few comments in an Associated Press story discussing whether or not the actor cast to play the role of Jesus in the new film “Son of God” was too good looking.

Steven Kraftchick, professor in the practice of New Testament interpretation at Candler School of Theology, offered a few comments in an Associated Press story discussing whether or not the actor cast to play the role of Jesus in the new film “Son of God” was too good looking.

Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr. will be the keynote speaker for a dedication service on March 8 at Selma’s Historic Tabernacle Baptist Church, where two new signs will be unveiled to celebrate the church’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Noel L. Erskine was recently interviewed by Oxford University Press in honor of Black History Month to discuss the Plantation Church’s origins and the prominent role the Caribbean played in its formation.

The Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr., director of the Department of Religion at Chautauqua Institution recently announced that he has been appointed to the James T. and Berta R. Laney Chair in Moral Leadership professorship at Candler School of Theology. The announcement also appears on The Post-Journal.

James Abbington, associate professor of church music and worship at Candler School of Theology, will be a featured guest at the Second Annual Music Seminar and Concert at St. James Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC, on March 6-8.